Speak to any of the Shute Shield coaches and Warringah keeps coming up when the subject moves, somewhat guardedly, to premiership contenders.

Of course Sydney Uni is a constant in that area but the Rats, they say, have the tools to negotiate the vagaries of this year’s Covid-19 competition and then win at the back end when a lot of the Super Rugby stock is at hand.

They were oh so close in 2019 and will be missing a few from that campaign including lock Sam Thomson and skipper Hamish Angus but the weight of the will at Rat Park is there.

Rugby News caught up with new head coach MIKE RUTHVEN to mull over the past couple of months and the season that is looming fast.

WHAT LIES AHEAD:
The 2020 season provides another really exciting opportunity for the Rats. We have been fortunate to keep a core nucleus of great players together through some really significant highs and some really tough lows.

It’s a tight bunch who all get on well and look after each other. It provides a solid base to build a side around. Sam Ward, Josh Holmes, Seb Wileman, Sam Needs, Rory O’Connor and Tyson Davis were all a part of the 2017 success, so they know how to win and they train accordingly.

Their experience and leadership is invaluable.

There is a wider group of players who have worked exceptionally hard in unusual circumstances. They have been well lead and guided by our S&C Dan Tilley who has done an enormous job to get them to the start line.

Amongst the group is a great balance of raw talent, fresh faces and guys who just love their footy. If we can mix all the ingredients right we will be there at the pointy end.

LAST SEASON: 13 wins and four losses to finish third at the end of home and away.

This was a season of so close yet so far. The Rats finished with the most wins at the end of the minor premiership only to be pipped for first past the post honours by a lack of bonus points. They then beat Northern Suburbs and Eastwood on their way to the grand final only to fall behind Uni in the final minutes. Lessons learnt for sure.

COMINGS AND GOINGS
Ins: Wayne Borsak (Sydney Uni), Rory Suttor (Sydney Uni), Charlie McKill (Scotland), Robbie Nelson, Mungo Mason (MLR)

Outs: Hamish Angus (retired), Maclean Jones (MLR), Matt Foulds, Ru McKenzie (retired), Faavae Sila, Sam Thomson (overseas)

WHERE WE’LL NEED TO IMPROVE: 
Last year showed us that to win the Shute Shield you need to be accurate and clinical till the absolute end.

We had a very successful year in many respects, yet came up short when it mattered.

The experience of previous years is always a factor in your preparation for a new season and we will be a little harder around the edges in those championship moments.

Bonus points cost us a minor premiership, so we need to be more clinical in converting opportunities into tries.

We have worked hard on our decision making and core skill in order to achieve this.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
To be honest I’m really excited for all our players given the challenging circumstances of 2020. They have earnt the opportunity to play some good footy.

Ben Marr and Ben Woolett are two freakish talents that will be better for last season. Both unbelieveable athletes and have great vision.

Tyson Davis has had another meticulous prep and deserves a great season.

I am expecting Max Girdler to have a really strong year. ‘Girds’ has a massive engine for a big man and is just that guy you want in your footy team.

The beauty of picking up a few players you know little about is always exciting when you think about who you are looking forward to watching, so I’m excited for all our new players.

HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR 2020:
At the end of the day we are all here for one purpose and that is to win a Shute Shield for our club.

Being at a club as successful as Warringah has been, my hope is the expectation. That comes with a huge sense of pressure and I’m loving the challenges of that.

As a coach you love nothing more than seeing players earn the spoils of their hard work and dedication. I’m expecting to see a lot of that this year.

I would love to see some more players from our program get an opportunity in a Super Rugby environment.

The club’s success over an extended period has you begging the question as to why we haven’t seen a better conversion of that success and players being contracted.

I am really hopeful that our team will put a smile on our large community of supporters faces and we’ll enjoy a beer with ‘Dazzy’ Hawthorne and his merry men to celebrate.

OUR BIG IMPROVERS WILL BE:
I am really confident our set piece will be a huge weapon for us this year. Sam Needs runs an exceptional scrum program and having both himself and Rory O’Connor leading the charge, along side ‘Borsy’ (Wayne Borsak), it gives you great confidence.

Our assistant coach Cam Treloar is a really smart lineout operator so we should be playing off a great platform.

Harley Attwater has some unbelievable performances at No.10 for us last year and I think he will carry that confidence into this year.

Andrew Davies is a young second rower who has been in and around our first and second grade squads for a couple of years now and has the opportunity to really cement himself as a corner stone of our forward pack.

WHO WILL YOUR TEAM PLAY IN THE GRAND FINAL?
It’s going to be a really tough comp. So many really good sides, and with the influx of the Waratahs at the back end of the season, it makes for a really exciting finish. Either Uni, Easts or Randwick on paper but I would love to play Manly. It would be massive.